Coupler centering device

ABSTRACT

A simplified centering device for a coupler of a railway car. The centering device embodies a single coil spring that is loaded between a pair of abutment members that engage the coupler shank for resiliently biasing the shank back to a normal, central position. A stop arrangement is additionally provided as part of the centering mechanism that can be released so that the coupler may be positioned in an offcenter location if desired.

United States Patent MacCurdy Mar. 14, 1972 [54] COUPLER CENTERINGDEVICE 3,100,050 8/1963 De Pentiet al. ..213/21 3,233,748 2/1966 Cisco....213/l9 [72] Invent Maccu'dy 3,258,131 6/1966 Manyek ..213/19 [73]Assignee: Evans Products p y 3,371,802 3/1968 Dungan ..213/20 1 9 [22]ed Dec 196 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman [21] Appl. No.1 889,150AtzarneyHarness, Dickey & Pierce 52 U.S. c1 ..213/20, 213/16, 213/19[57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl ..B6lg 7/12 A Simplified centering device fora coupler f a il can [58] Field ofSearch .213/16, l9, 17, 20,21, 60, Thecentering device embodies a Single coil spring that is 213/61 loadedbetween a pair of abutment members that engage the coupler shank forresiliently biasing the shank back to a nor- [56] References cued mal,central position. A stop arrangement is additionally pro- UNITED STATESPATENTS vided as part of the centering mechanism that can be released sothat the coupler may be positioned in an offcenter location 644,3822/1900 Washbum ..213/20 if desired 821,085 5/1906 Brown ..213/201,154,040 9/1915 Milliken ..213/20 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COUPLERCENTERING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toan improved coupler centering device.

Various devices have been proposed in the railway art for biasing thecoupler toward a normal position so that it will mate with the couplerof the next adjacent car when the train is being made up. It isdesirable that such a centering device may be released, if desired, sothat the coupler may be shifted to an offcenter position when making upa train on curves. In addition, such a centering device should berelatively simple in construction so as to provide a low cost and so asto insure reliability in operation.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide animproved, simplified coupler centering device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a simplified couplercentering device that may be released when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A coupler centering device embodying thisinvention is particularly adapted for centering a swinging memberadapted to carry a coupler or the like. The centering device comprises afirst abutment member that is adapted to engage the swinging member uponmovement of the swinging member in one direction from a normal position.Means support the first abutment member for movement in the onedirection when the swinging member moves from its normal position in theone direction. First stop means are adapted to engage the first abutmentmember for precluding movement of the first abutment member in adirection opposite to the one direction when the swinging member movesfrom its position in the opposite direction. A second abutment member isadapted to engage the swinging member upon movement of the swingingmember in the other direction from its normal position. Means supportthe second abutment member for movement in the other direction when theswinging member moves in this direction from its normal position. Secondstop means are adapted to engage the second abutment member forprecluding movement of the second abutment member in the one directionwhen the swinging member moves from its normal position in the onedirection. Resilient means are interposed between the first and secondabutment members for resilient deflection upon relative movement betweenthe abutment members as occurs when the swinging member is displacedfrom its normal position. The resilient means thereby is effective toexert a restoring force upon the swinging member for returning theswinging member to its normal position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of aportion of a railway car having a coupler centering device embodyingthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the centering device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the centering device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A coupler centeringdevice embodying this invention is identified generally by the referencenumeral 11. The centering device 11 is adapted to be supported adjacentthe ends of a railway car and is positioned preferably beneath the bellmouth of the underframe structure. Since the construction of the carforms no part of this invention, it has not been illustrated. Thecentering device 11 is positioned immediately adjacent and beneath ashank 12 that is supported for pivotal movement in any known manner andwhich carries a coupler (not shown) at its outer end.

The centering device 11 is comprised of a generally channel shapedsupporting member 13 that is affixed in any suitable manner to theunderframe structure of the car in the previously mentioned location. Afirst abutment member 14 is affixed to a generally U-shaped strap 15that is supported within the channel 13. The first abutment member 14 isjuxtaposed to one side of a depending tongue 16 that is affixed in anyknown manner to the shank 12.

A second abutment member 17 is disposed on the opposite side of thetongue 16 and is affixed to a U-shaped strap 18. The strap 18 has spacedlegs 19 and 21 that are connected to a cross-leg 22. The strap 18 isslidably supported within the channel 13. The strap 15 has spaced apartlegs 23 and 24 that are disposed in the channel 13 outwardly of thestrap legs 19 and 21. The legs 23 and 24 are integrally connected by ashort leg 25.

A coil compression spring 26 is carried within the channel 13 and bearsagainst the legs 25 and 22 of the straps 15 and 18, respectively. Thespring 26 urges the leg 25 of the strap 15 against an annular collar 27that is affixed to one end of an elongated tubular member 28 thatextends coaxially through the spring 26. At its opposite end, the spring26 urges the leg 22 of the strap 18 against an annular collar 29 that isaffixed to the opposite end of the tubular member 28.

An elongated release rod 31 is journaled in a pair of bearing plates 32and 33 that are affixed to the channel 13. The release rod 31 has a pairof angularly shaped stop members 34 and 35 affixed to it adjacent itsopposite ends. The stop members 34 and 35 are juxtaposed to the annularmembers 27 and 29 when the shank 12 is in its normal oncenter positionas shown in the drawings. A pair of release handles 37 and 38 areaffixed to the opposite ends of the release rod 31 adjacent the stopmembers 34 and 35. The weight of the release handles 37 and 38 issufficient to pivot the stop members 34 and 35 in a clockwise directionas viewed in FIG. 3 until they engage a pair of stop rods 39 and 41 thatare affixed within opposite ends of the tube 28 and which protrudetherefrom.

The drawings illustrate the centering device 11 in its operativeposition when the coupler shank 12 is in its normal, oncenter position.Assuming a force is applied to the coupler shank 12 sufficient to moveit to the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tongue 16 will exert aforce on the abutment member 14 shifting it also to the left. A tensileforce is thus exerted upon the strap 15 and this force is transmittedthrough the coil spring 26 to the strap 18. The strap 18 abuts thecollar 29 and moves slightly to the left until the collar 29 engages thestop member 34. At this time, the strap 18 is held against furthermovement to the left. Continued movement of the coupler shank 12 willthen cause the coil spring 26 to be compressed and the abutment member14 will move relative to and away from the abutment member 17. When theforce that displaced the coupler shank 12 is released, the spring 27will again expand and act through the abutment member 14 for urging theshank to its normal position.

It should be readily apparent that displacement of the coupler shank 12to the right will cause movement of the abutment member 17 and the strap18. After the clearance has been taken up, the collar 27 will engage thestop 35 and the spring 26 will again be compressed. It will be notedfrom an in spection of FIG. 2 that the surfaces of the abutment members14 and 17 that contact the tongue 16 are curved so as to insure againstwear of the elements during their displacement.

Assuming that it is desired to position the coupler and its shank 12without interference from the centering device 11, either the handle 37or the handle 38 may be grasped from the respective side of the car andraised to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3. In this position,the stop members 34 and 35 are disposed clear of the collars 29 and 28.Thus, if the coupler shank 12 is displaced from its normal position,either the abutment member 14 or the abutment member 17 will cause theentire portion of the centering device that is supported within thechannel 13 to slide along with the shank 12. When the coupler shank I2is again centered, the weight of the handles 37 and 38 will cause thestop members 34 and 35 to move back to their operative positions. Thus,no manual or operator reengagement of the centering mechanism 11 isnecessary.

What is claimed is:

1. A coupler centering device for centering a swinging member adapted tocarry a coupler or the like, said centering device comprising a firstabutment member adapted to engage the swinging member upon movementthereof in one direction from a normal position, means for supportingsaid first abutment member for movement in said one direction when theswinging member moves in said one direction from its normal position,first stop means cooperating with said first abutment member forprecluding movement of said first abutment member in a directionopposite to said one direction when the swinging member moves from itsnormal position in said opposite direction, a second abutment memberadapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof from itsnormal position in the other direction, means for supporting said secondabutment member for movement in said other direction when the swingingmember moves from said other direction in its normal position, secondstop means cooperating with said second abutment member for precludingmovement of said second abutment member in said first direction when theswinging member moves from its normal position in said one direction,resilient means interposed between said first and said second abutmentmembers for resilient deflection of said spring means upon relativemovement between said abutment members as occurs when the swingingmember is displaced from its normal position, said resilient meansthereby being effective to exert a restoring force upon the swingingmember for returning the swinging member to its normal position, saidfirst and said second stop being affixed to a common supporting element,means for supporting said supporting element and said first and saidsecond stop means for simultaneous movement from an operative positionwherein they are adapted to cooperate with the respective abutmentmembers to a released position wherein the stop means do not cooperatewith the abutment members to preclude their movement so that theabutment members may move with the swinging member as the swingingmember is displaced in either direction from its normal position andwithout loading said resilient means, and release means accessible oneither side of the swinging member for moving said stop means betweentheir operative positions and their released positions.

2. A coupler centering device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each ofthe abutment members includes a respective U-shaped member, the U-shapedmember of said first abutment member being adapted to telescope withinthe U-shaped member of the second abutment member upon their relativemovement, the resilient means comprising a single coil spring interposedbetween said U-shaped members and bearing against their short legs.

3. A coupler centering device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the meansfor supporting the abutment members comprises a channel shaped member inwhich the U-shaped members are slidably supported.

4. A coupler centering device for centering a swinging member adapted tocarry a coupler or the like, said centering device comprising a firstU-shaped member having means adapted to engage the swinging member uponmovement thereof in one direction from a normal position, a channelshaped member for supporting said U-shaped member for movement in saidone direction when the swinging member moves in said one direction fromits normal position, first stop means cooperating with said firstU-shaped member for precluding movement of said first U-shaped member ina direction opposite to said one direction when the swinging membermoves from its normal position in said opposite direction, a secondU-shaped member slidably supported in said channel shaped member andhaving means adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereoffrom its normal position in the other direction, said second U-shapedmember being supported within said channel shaped member for movement insaid other direction when the swinging member moves in said otherdirection from its normal position, second stop means cooperating withsaid second U- shaped member or precluding movement of said second U-shaped member in said first direction when the swinging member movesfrom its normal position in said one direction, said first U-shapedmember being adapted to telescope within said second U-shaped memberupon relative movement between said U-shaped members, a single coilspring received with said U-shaped members and bearing against theirshort legs for resilient deflection upon relative movement between saidU-shaped members as occurs when the swinging member is displaced fromits normal position, said resilient means thereby being effective toexert a restoring force upon the swinging member for returning theswinging member to its normal position, a rod supported for pivotalmovement, means for operatively connecting said first stop means andsaid second stop means to said rod for movement with said rod, means forpivoting said rod between an operative position in which said stop meansare positioned to be engaged by the respective of said U-shaped membersin a released position in which said stop means do not interfere withfree movement of said U-shaped members for movement of said U-shapedmembers with the swinging member as the swinging member is dis placed ineither direction from its normal position and without loading said coilspring, a tubular member extending through said coil spring, and collarsaffixed to opposite ends of said tubular member and interposed betweenthe short legs of said U- shaped members and the respective stop means.

1. A coupler centering device for centering a swinging member adapted tocarry a coupler or the like, said centering device comprising a firstabutment member adapted to engage the swinging member upon movementthereof in one direction from a normal position, means for supportingsaid first abutment member for movement in said one direction when theswinging member moves in said one direction from its normal position,first stop means cooperating with said first abutment member forprecluding movement of said first abutment member in a directionopposite to said one direction when the swinging member moves from itsnormal position in said opposite direction, a second abutment memberadapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof from itsnormal position in the other direction, means for supporting said secondabutment member for movement in said other direction when the swingingmember moves from said other direction in its normal position, secondstop means cooperating with said second abutment member for precludingmovement of said second abutment member in said first direction when theswinging member moves from its normal position in said one direction,resilient means interposed between said first and said second abutmentmembers for resilient deflection of said spring means upon relativemovement between said abutment members as occurs when the swingingmember is displaced from its normal position, said resilient meansthereby being effective to exert a restoring force upon the swingingmember for returning the swinging member to its normal position, saidfirst and said second stop being affixed to a common supporting element,means for supporting said supporting element and said first and saidsecond stop means for simultaneous movement from an operative positionwherein they are adapted to cooperate with the respective abutmentmembers to a released position wherein the stop means do not cooperatewith the abutment members to preclude their movement so that theabutment members may move with the swinging member as the swingingmember is displaced in either direction from its normal position andwithout loading said resilient means, and release means accessible oneither side of the swinging member for moving said stop means betweentheir operative positions and their released positions.
 2. A couplercentering device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the abutmentmembers includes a respective U-shaped member, the U-shaped member ofsaid first abutment member being adapted to telescope within theU-shaped member of the second abutment member upon their relativemovement, the resilient means comprising a single coil spring interposedbetween said U-shaped members and bearing against their short legs.
 3. Acoupler centering device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means forsupporting the abutment members comprises a channel shaped member inwhich the U-shaped members are slidably supported.
 4. A couplercentering device for centering a swinging member adapted to carry acoupler or the like, said centering device comprising a first U-shapedmember having means adapted to engage the swinging member upon movementthereof in one direction from a normal position, a channel shaped memberfor supporting said U-shaped member for movement in said one directionwhen the swinging member moves in said one direction from its normalposition, first stop means cooperating with said first U-shaped memberfor precluding movement of said first U-shaped member in a directionopposite to said one direction when the swinging member moves from itsnormal position in said opposite direction, a second U-shaped memberslidably supported in said channel shaped member and having meansadapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof from itsnormal position in the other direction, said second U-shaped memberbeing supported within said channel shaped member for movement in saidother direction when the swinging member moves in said other directionfrom its normal position, second stop means cooperating with said secondU-shaped member for precluding movement of said second U-shaped memberin said first direction when the swinging member moves from its normalposition in said one direction, said first U-shaped member being adaptedto telescope within said second U-shaped member upon relative movementbetween said U-shaped members, a single coil spring received with saidU-shaped members and bearing against their short legs for resilientdeflection upon relative movement between said U-shaped members asoccurs when the swinging member is displaced from its normal position,said resilient means thereby being effective to exert a restoring forceupon the swinging member for returning the swinging member to its normalposition, a rod supported for pivotal movement, means for operativelyconnecting said first stop means and said second stop means to said rodfor movement with said rod, means for pivoting said rod between anoperative position in which said stop means are positioned to be engagedby the respective of said U-shaped members in a released position inwhich said stop means do not interfere with free movement of saidU-shaped members for movement of said U-shaped members with the swingingmember as the swinging member is displaced in either direction from itsnormal position and without loading said coil spring, a tubular memberextending through said coil spring, and collars affixed to opposite endsof said tubular member and interposed between the short legs of saidU-shaped members and the respective stop means.